Biometric fails to light up in Government schools

Srinagar: The installation of bio-metric devices in government schools to monitor punctuality of teachers and non teaching staff has died a silent death.

Pertinently, the authorities in education Department had directed all the school heads in high and higher secondary schools to start bio metric attendance in their respective institutions in 2015, however the move is yet to see any progress on grounds.

In past two years, after government directions, very few number of schools have switched to biometric attendance of teachers.

“All government high and higher secondary schools had been ordered to do so last year by the director school education Kashmir but there are various hiccups to implement the order,” said an official wishing not to be named.

As per figures only 231 high and 161 higher secondary schools in Kashmir have installed biometric devices.

“These schools are mostly located in towns or city areas and have been able to start bio metric attendance in schools,” he said.

Pertinently, the biometric attendance system runs on electricity but the department is yet to equip government schools with electricity facility which has delayed switching over to biometric attendance.

“The government should first provide electricity to schools and then plan such measures. Otherwise these orders and circulars are put on shelves,” a teacher said.

Interestingly, around 6000 schools in Kashmir are without electricity facility.

In Kupwara district, only 87 of the total 1423 schools are electrified and 777 out of 1458 in Baramulla district.

“In Ganderbal district only 363 out of 571 schools are electrified and 318 out of 518 schools are un-electrified in Srinagar district,” reveal official figures.

Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said the department has taken up the matter with the chief engineers of Power Development Department (PDD) and Public Health Engineering department to provide power and water connections to all schools in Kashmir.

“We will also have biometric attendance in all schools particularly in high and higher secondary schools. The process will be completed in a phased manner as well,” he said.

He said some schools have been set up in isolated places which becomes problematic for the Department to provide facilities in these institutions.